Robin Lehner makes 28 saves to help Ottawa Senators edge New York Islanders 3-2

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Robin Lehner made 28 saves as the Ottawa Senators beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Sunday.

Milan Michalek, Jason Spezza, Jim O'Brien, Chris Neil, and Kyle Turris also contributed to the win with goals for the Senators (33-23-8).

Lehner was making his first start since being recalled from Binghamton on an emergency basis after Craig Anderson cut his hand last Thursday in a culinary mishap.

Erik Karlsson's two assists gave him 65 points and the record for most points in a season by a Senators' defenceman.

The old record of 63 was set by Norm Maciver in 1992-93.

John Tavares and P.A. Parenteau scored for the Islanders (26-28-8) while Evgeni Nabokov made 19 saves.

The Senators led 2-1 heading into the third period when a turnover by Islanders defenceman Mike Mottau led directly to Ottawa's third goal of the evening, giving them a two-goal cushion five minutes into the period.

Mottau tried to backhand a pass from behind his net up the middle, but it went first to Chris Neil and then O'Brien, who took a wrist shot that caught the top of Nabokov's glove before going in.

After Parenteau pulled the Islanders to within a goal at 9:04, Neil tapped a Nick Foligno pass out of midair and in past Nabokov at 12:59 to restore the Senators' two-goal lead. Turris scored into an empty net to seal the victory.

The power play proved to be a friend of the Senators in the second period as they converted both their opportunities into goals to take a 2-1 lead.

Karlsson fed Michalek in the slot and he then put a backhand past Nabokov at 12:21 to tie the game. Just over four minutes later Spezza ripped a slapshot over Nabakov's shoulder and in from the top of the faceoff circle after Karlsson faked a shot then fed Spezza cross ice.

The Islanders had taken a 1-0 lead just 49 seconds into the game as Tavares beat Lehner finishing up a two-on-one.

Notes: Prior to Sunday's game the Senators made a trade acquiring goaltender Ben Bishop from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for their second-round pick in the 2013 NHL draft. Bishop had spent the entire season with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey league and has a 24-24-0 record. … Heading into Sunday the Islanders led the NHL with 1.038 blocked shots. … Brian Rolston, Steve Staios and Josh Bailey were scratches for the Islanders Sunday while Zenon Konopka and Matt Carkner sat for the Senators.